Michael A. De Leon is a graphic designer by day, but wears many hats in his off time. In 2004, after several years of covering the Spurs, he started Project Spurs, a Spurs team fansite as an outlet to provide content to Spurs fans, while continuing to write for himself and learning the ins and outs of online publishing and web design. He has since built a writing team and started a popular weekly Spurs podcast called the Spurscast.

Note: This is an mySA.com City Brights Blog. These blogs are not written or edited by mySA or the San Antonio Express-News. The authors are solely responsible for the content.

Bonner trying play for Canada

When you think of global basketball powers you might automatically think the U.S.A., Argentina, or Spain but not Canada. Well Canada, you’re in luck! Why? Because San Antonio Spurs’ forward Matt Bonner is trying to get his Canadian citizenship in time to play in Turkey at the World Championship this summer.

Bonner, the once Toronto Raptor, fell in love with the country and is trying to get Canadian citizenship in time to play with team Canada for the World Championships in Turkey this summer. Here is what Canadian Men’s National Team’s coach Leo Rautins had to say about Bonner:

In his two seasons as a Raptor (2004-05, 2005-06) Bonner fell in love with Canada, Toronto, curling (honestly) and a Canadian woman. The couple have married and Bonner’s trying to get Canadian citizenship in time to play in Turkey.

“He’s dying to play and we’re keeping our fingers crossed,” says Rautins of Bonner, who averaged 7.0 points and 3.3 rebounds for the Spurs last season.

Should Bonner get his citizenship in time for the World Championships in Turkey, he would join Miami Heat forward Joel Anthony, possibly Jamaal Magloire, and son of Canada’s coach, Andy Rautins, of Syracuse.